SDWA and PFAS: Current Framework and Gaps
The Safe Drinking Water Act provides EPA authority to set maximum contaminant levels for drinking water pollutants. EPA’s April 2024 PFAS MCL rule represents the first use of this authority for PFAS, but SDWA reform proposals aim to strengthen PFAS regulatory tools further.
Proposed SDWA Amendments
Congressional proposals include mandatory PFAS MCL review timelines, expanded small system compliance flexibility, dedicated PFAS monitoring grants, and enhanced public notification requirements for PFAS exceedances. Bipartisan support reflects PFAS contamination’s geographic universality affecting both rural and urban communities.
Funding and Enforcement Gaps
Current SDWA enforcement relies on state primacy programs that vary significantly in capacity. Reform proposals include minimum federal PFAS enforcement standards, increased penalty authority, and dedicated federal compliance assistance funding for small and disadvantaged water systems.
Science-Policy Integration
SDWA reform proposals also address the pace of science-policy integration for emerging PFAS compounds. Expedited review procedures and provisional MCL authority would allow EPA to act faster on emerging PFAS health concerns without lengthy formal rulemaking timelines.